Pirozhkova, Bisek, Holm receive their draws for World Championships in Uzbekistan
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by Gary Abbott USA Wrestling
Photos of 2012 World Champion Elena Pirozhkova competing at the 2013 World Championships. Pirozhkova is the final U.S. women’s wrestler competing in Tashkent.
The final women’s freestyle wrestler for the United States, and the first two Greco-Roman wrestlers, have weighed in and received their draws for the 2014 World Wrestling Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
2012 World champion Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) will at compete in women’s freestyle at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. She has drawn 2013 and 2014 European champion Anastasia Grigorjeva of Latvia. Grigorjeva defeated Pirozhkova in the 2012 Olympic Games, 2-0, 0-5, 0-2.
Pirozhkova also boasts a 2010 World silver medal and a 2013 World bronze medal and was a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.
“Elena had great preparation. She is taking this into her own hands. That’s when you know with an athlete that its time for them to perform. It’s when they realize nobody can push you along the way. It’s when you they see the value of doing everything right, and just doing it. Elena has been one of our most consistent performers this year. She needs to show that tomorrow,” said National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner.
The Greco-Roman competition also begins on Friday, with action in two weight classes. It will be the first World Championships under the leadership of new National Greco-Roman Coach Matt Lindland.
Wrestling in his third Senior World Championships is Andrew Bisek (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) at 75 kg/165 lbs. He drew Petros Manoulidis of Greece, who was fifth in the 2013 Mediterranean Games.
Since last year’s World Championships, Bisek has won gold medals at the New York AC International, the Haavisto Cup in Finland, the Dave Schultz Memorial International, the Granma Cup in Cuba and the Pan American Championships.
“Andy is one of the guys I’m most excited seeing get out on the mats. He has had a great season. I expect really good things from Andy. The key is staying relaxed and getting to his positions. He has focused on holding his body in position and moving his opponents. He can do great things,” said National Greco-Roman Coach Matt Lindland.
On his second straight U.S. World Team is Jordan Holm (Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) at 85 kg/187 lbs., who opens his tournament against Rustam Assakalov of Uzbekistan, who was the 2013 Asian champion.
“The sky’s the limit for Jordan. This year has been a much better year for Jordan, as far as being a veteran. It isn’t his first year on the team. He has a more relaxed attitude. When Jordan gets all tense, he does not perform. When he stays loose and is enjoying the process, he does very well. I am confident that he is relaxed. If he can keep doing that going into the tournament, I believe he will have a good result,” said Lindland.
Lindland believes his team has prepared well, and will embrace the challenge ahead.
“We had three separate training cycles, two in Colorado Springs and the last on here in Kazakhstan, which we thought was the best one. Some of our veterans who have been on multiple World Teams said it was the best training camp they have had as far as facilities and training partners. We got what we needed in preparation for this tournament,” said Lindland.
For complete coverage of the World Wrestling Championships, visit TheMat.com
WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Tashkent, Uzbekistan
U.S. Women’s freestyle first round draw
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
Vs. Anastasia Grigorjeva (Latvia), 2013 and 2014 European champion, 9th in 2012 Olympic Games
U.S. Greco-Roman first round draw
75 kg/165 lbs. - Andrew Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Petros Manoulidis (Greece), 2nd in 2014 Trophee Milone (Italy), 5th in 2013 Mediterranean Games
85 kg/187 lbs. - Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Rustam Assakalov (Uzbekistan), 2013 Asian champion, 2nd in 2014 Asian Championships
The final women’s freestyle wrestler for the United States, and the first two Greco-Roman wrestlers, have weighed in and received their draws for the 2014 World Wrestling Championships in Tashkent, Uzbekistan
2012 World champion Elena Pirozhkova (Colorado Springs, Colo./Titan Mercury WC) will at compete in women’s freestyle at 63 kg/138.75 lbs. She has drawn 2013 and 2014 European champion Anastasia Grigorjeva of Latvia. Grigorjeva defeated Pirozhkova in the 2012 Olympic Games, 2-0, 0-5, 0-2.
Pirozhkova also boasts a 2010 World silver medal and a 2013 World bronze medal and was a member of the 2012 U.S. Olympic Team.
“Elena had great preparation. She is taking this into her own hands. That’s when you know with an athlete that its time for them to perform. It’s when they realize nobody can push you along the way. It’s when you they see the value of doing everything right, and just doing it. Elena has been one of our most consistent performers this year. She needs to show that tomorrow,” said National Women’s Coach Terry Steiner.
The Greco-Roman competition also begins on Friday, with action in two weight classes. It will be the first World Championships under the leadership of new National Greco-Roman Coach Matt Lindland.
Wrestling in his third Senior World Championships is Andrew Bisek (Colorado Springs, Colo./Minnesota Storm) at 75 kg/165 lbs. He drew Petros Manoulidis of Greece, who was fifth in the 2013 Mediterranean Games.
Since last year’s World Championships, Bisek has won gold medals at the New York AC International, the Haavisto Cup in Finland, the Dave Schultz Memorial International, the Granma Cup in Cuba and the Pan American Championships.
“Andy is one of the guys I’m most excited seeing get out on the mats. He has had a great season. I expect really good things from Andy. The key is staying relaxed and getting to his positions. He has focused on holding his body in position and moving his opponents. He can do great things,” said National Greco-Roman Coach Matt Lindland.
On his second straight U.S. World Team is Jordan Holm (Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm) at 85 kg/187 lbs., who opens his tournament against Rustam Assakalov of Uzbekistan, who was the 2013 Asian champion.
“The sky’s the limit for Jordan. This year has been a much better year for Jordan, as far as being a veteran. It isn’t his first year on the team. He has a more relaxed attitude. When Jordan gets all tense, he does not perform. When he stays loose and is enjoying the process, he does very well. I am confident that he is relaxed. If he can keep doing that going into the tournament, I believe he will have a good result,” said Lindland.
Lindland believes his team has prepared well, and will embrace the challenge ahead.
“We had three separate training cycles, two in Colorado Springs and the last on here in Kazakhstan, which we thought was the best one. Some of our veterans who have been on multiple World Teams said it was the best training camp they have had as far as facilities and training partners. We got what we needed in preparation for this tournament,” said Lindland.
For complete coverage of the World Wrestling Championships, visit TheMat.com
WORLD WRESTLING CHAMPIONSHIPS
At Tashkent, Uzbekistan
U.S. Women’s freestyle first round draw
63 kg/138.75 lbs. - Elena Pirozhkova, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Titan Mercury WC)
Vs. Anastasia Grigorjeva (Latvia), 2013 and 2014 European champion, 9th in 2012 Olympic Games
U.S. Greco-Roman first round draw
75 kg/165 lbs. - Andrew Bisek, Colorado Springs, Colo. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Petros Manoulidis (Greece), 2nd in 2014 Trophee Milone (Italy), 5th in 2013 Mediterranean Games
85 kg/187 lbs. - Jordan Holm, Minneapolis, Minn. (Minnesota Storm)
Vs. Rustam Assakalov (Uzbekistan), 2013 Asian champion, 2nd in 2014 Asian Championships
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